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Today so many with good intentions will protest, peacefully please I pray.
Today I attended an author symposium at a KC Library.
The subject was writing queer characters, and reading, supporting all aspects of our community. I learned a lot.
Often our allies ask in this month of pride for recommendations of queer writing.
This brings me back to the prompt. PROTEST.
I protest the fact that cis heterosexual allies make an effort in June. Are we not real the rest of the year? Do we not bleed, work and live our lives 24/7 365?
As with Asian/ Indian/Black people shouldn’t we all be supportive all year?
We are grateful for the exposure of our community this month, don’t get me wrong.
Our community is here, queer and not going anywhere.
I PROTEST that as writers many feel they should include different races, gender and sexual orientations when, shouldn’t we be concentrating on writing the best story we can.
Crossover stories so good they defy labels. I don’t want my stories pigeon holed to only LGBTQ section of a book shelf. But it is important to include all humans. I get that.
We need to bypass the stereotypes and labels and PROTEST when hetro typical people say my Gay neighbor, my Lesbian cousin, My Trans friend…. If gender is not the issue of a conversation DROP IT.
We all are humans, we all Iive on the same blue marble called Earth.
We all need to support each others rights to be who we are. It should be so normal that we can speak about others and the last thing we think of is their sexuality.
Francesca — this carries such alive movement — written in a taxi, and i can feel that flow in it. hope that flies, twinkles, grazes knees yet rises — yes. so many want ashes to stay weight — and here you showed how they can become flight. thank you for this moment of grace.
If you feel inspired. This is to showing up proud in whatever way feels called for on the page. Though it is Pride Month it is not exclusively Queer. And glad you like it.
Jay!! This really resonates with me. I was one of the drafters and advocates for the Equal Marriage Act in Argentina. Just today, I was thinking back on the strategy we put together to get the law passed, it was such an incredible experience! L/C/R
Betina, that is indeed interesting — and what a coincidence. I was the spokesperson and General Manager of Germany’s largest queer lobbying organisation when the Registered Life Partnership Act was passed in the Bundestag in 2001, and I delivered the press statement for them at the Bundespressekonferenz — the most prestigious venue for addressing the world press.
I got emotional watching it, too. Thank you for sharing .There is no account of my time on TV on the internet. Yet believe me, standing there in front of REUTERS, AP, Agence France Press, and of course the whole German News landscape, ARD, ZDF it was something I'll never ever forget.
Okay am I the only one who saw Resistance… and their mind immediately went to “Resistance is futile!” the quote from the borge on Star Trek?... Such a geek! Certainly not. Yet I do know what it feels like to be assimilated. As an out and proud lesbian since the late 80’s, I find myself, happily assimilated into CIS culture. I almost feel guilty because my neighbors are nice, my family supportive and I go about my life as usual...or typical. Almost like a survivor’s guilt.
My GUILT comes from hearing so many stories of those less fortunate. I did a stint on a GAY Hot-line and have listen to suicidal calls, lots of questions, and tons of drama. So I do understand that I am not the norm. I am truly blessed.
My boundaries come in when I am excluded. I rarely speak up unless a conversation, an event for couples to take part and I am asked about my spouse. (Usually my boyfriend/or husband) THEN I proudly say my wife and I would love to come. Or I’m sorry I don’t think my wife and I are available. Often times I can see the look of hate/or disapproval come across a bigoted face. I just kill them with kindness.
“Thank you for thinking of us.”
I refuse to be silenced. I have a wonderful life and why shouldn’t I get to talk about my spouse?
My Trans acquaintance’s however, I hurt for. Today, they not only feel the rejection by our government but often out and out hate on a daily basis. Sad. When they are the reason so many of us other ALPHABETERS---LGBTQIA+ have any rights at all.
I don’t have all the answers but am willing to try to explain things to people brave enough to ask questions. I have had writers ask about characters they want to write, I’ve had co-workers ask how I saw things in the current news. I hope I am doing my due diligence to be open and proud and give caring words that matter.
It is not my job to convert, but to inform. It is not my job to judge when they ask because they feel safe with me to do so.
Kill em with kindness… “Thanks for asking, I have a few books on the matter if you are interested.” I can point them to resources on the web, and others who have better answers. My thinking on the matter is People who truly want to know are going outside of their previous boundaries to ask. Don’t shut anyone down if they need to talk. Sometimes all they want is to be heard and they really want to understand.
BE the welcoming ear, the warm smile the voice of reason. We all are different but at the heart everyone I believe we all want a HEA…(happily-ever-after). You might be able to help someone on their journey to theirs.
Diana — you lay out this landscape with much honesty. How safety, privilege, and responsibility weave together is no simple thing to hold. You name it clearly: being able to live visibly in one space, while knowing others are targeted daily. That tension does not resolve easily, and yet you stay present to it. And yes — naming your spouse directly in those moments is not small. I hear how you hold that line without seeking conflict, and at the same time without erasing yourself. This is boundary in action. Where I see complexity is in the space where kindness becomes strategy — it may create a path through, yet for me, the deeper question remains: how to stand in full clarity, without leaning on habit or tone that might soften what should remain firm. I appreciate how you hold this as a conversation, not a position. And how you keep space open for those who seek understanding, without folding your own truth in the process.
Prompt… Protest
Today so many with good intentions will protest, peacefully please I pray.
Today I attended an author symposium at a KC Library.
The subject was writing queer characters, and reading, supporting all aspects of our community. I learned a lot.
Often our allies ask in this month of pride for recommendations of queer writing.
This brings me back to the prompt. PROTEST.
I protest the fact that cis heterosexual allies make an effort in June. Are we not real the rest of the year? Do we not bleed, work and live our lives 24/7 365?
As with Asian/ Indian/Black people shouldn’t we all be supportive all year?
We are grateful for the exposure of our community this month, don’t get me wrong.
Our community is here, queer and not going anywhere.
I PROTEST that as writers many feel they should include different races, gender and sexual orientations when, shouldn’t we be concentrating on writing the best story we can.
Crossover stories so good they defy labels. I don’t want my stories pigeon holed to only LGBTQ section of a book shelf. But it is important to include all humans. I get that.
We need to bypass the stereotypes and labels and PROTEST when hetro typical people say my Gay neighbor, my Lesbian cousin, My Trans friend…. If gender is not the issue of a conversation DROP IT.
We all are humans, we all Iive on the same blue marble called Earth.
We all need to support each others rights to be who we are. It should be so normal that we can speak about others and the last thing we think of is their sexuality.
Just my thoughts on PROTEST today…
Write on dear ones, Diana
Hope Flies
I kicked the ashes aside.
Gathering my superpower,
Rooting in hope.
I reignited my flame,
Polished my twinkle,
Sashayed through a blur of blues and reds and golds!
I stumbled, oh yes! I grazed my knees, my pride, my dignity.
But do you know the strength of
hope,
joy,
and love?
Ashes disintegrate.
But hope remains magnificent.
Hope flies.
(Written in the taxi in a traffic jam!)
Francesca — this carries such alive movement — written in a taxi, and i can feel that flow in it. hope that flies, twinkles, grazes knees yet rises — yes. so many want ashes to stay weight — and here you showed how they can become flight. thank you for this moment of grace.
Pride on the page!! I love that.
If you feel inspired. This is to showing up proud in whatever way feels called for on the page. Though it is Pride Month it is not exclusively Queer. And glad you like it.
Jay!! This really resonates with me. I was one of the drafters and advocates for the Equal Marriage Act in Argentina. Just today, I was thinking back on the strategy we put together to get the law passed, it was such an incredible experience! L/C/R
Betina, that is indeed interesting — and what a coincidence. I was the spokesperson and General Manager of Germany’s largest queer lobbying organisation when the Registered Life Partnership Act was passed in the Bundestag in 2001, and I delivered the press statement for them at the Bundespressekonferenz — the most prestigious venue for addressing the world press.
I still get emotional when I watch it.
Wow!! I can't believe with had the same experience!! We passed the law in 2010. Take a look at the moment here:https://youtu.be/YxsnZelXWa0?si=IPPRKtCttoiar26e
I got emotional watching it, too. Thank you for sharing .There is no account of my time on TV on the internet. Yet believe me, standing there in front of REUTERS, AP, Agence France Press, and of course the whole German News landscape, ARD, ZDF it was something I'll never ever forget.
Resistance/Boundaries…
#PrideOnThePage prompts
Okay am I the only one who saw Resistance… and their mind immediately went to “Resistance is futile!” the quote from the borge on Star Trek?... Such a geek! Certainly not. Yet I do know what it feels like to be assimilated. As an out and proud lesbian since the late 80’s, I find myself, happily assimilated into CIS culture. I almost feel guilty because my neighbors are nice, my family supportive and I go about my life as usual...or typical. Almost like a survivor’s guilt.
My GUILT comes from hearing so many stories of those less fortunate. I did a stint on a GAY Hot-line and have listen to suicidal calls, lots of questions, and tons of drama. So I do understand that I am not the norm. I am truly blessed.
My boundaries come in when I am excluded. I rarely speak up unless a conversation, an event for couples to take part and I am asked about my spouse. (Usually my boyfriend/or husband) THEN I proudly say my wife and I would love to come. Or I’m sorry I don’t think my wife and I are available. Often times I can see the look of hate/or disapproval come across a bigoted face. I just kill them with kindness.
“Thank you for thinking of us.”
I refuse to be silenced. I have a wonderful life and why shouldn’t I get to talk about my spouse?
My Trans acquaintance’s however, I hurt for. Today, they not only feel the rejection by our government but often out and out hate on a daily basis. Sad. When they are the reason so many of us other ALPHABETERS---LGBTQIA+ have any rights at all.
I don’t have all the answers but am willing to try to explain things to people brave enough to ask questions. I have had writers ask about characters they want to write, I’ve had co-workers ask how I saw things in the current news. I hope I am doing my due diligence to be open and proud and give caring words that matter.
It is not my job to convert, but to inform. It is not my job to judge when they ask because they feel safe with me to do so.
Kill em with kindness… “Thanks for asking, I have a few books on the matter if you are interested.” I can point them to resources on the web, and others who have better answers. My thinking on the matter is People who truly want to know are going outside of their previous boundaries to ask. Don’t shut anyone down if they need to talk. Sometimes all they want is to be heard and they really want to understand.
BE the welcoming ear, the warm smile the voice of reason. We all are different but at the heart everyone I believe we all want a HEA…(happily-ever-after). You might be able to help someone on their journey to theirs.
Diana — you lay out this landscape with much honesty. How safety, privilege, and responsibility weave together is no simple thing to hold. You name it clearly: being able to live visibly in one space, while knowing others are targeted daily. That tension does not resolve easily, and yet you stay present to it. And yes — naming your spouse directly in those moments is not small. I hear how you hold that line without seeking conflict, and at the same time without erasing yourself. This is boundary in action. Where I see complexity is in the space where kindness becomes strategy — it may create a path through, yet for me, the deeper question remains: how to stand in full clarity, without leaning on habit or tone that might soften what should remain firm. I appreciate how you hold this as a conversation, not a position. And how you keep space open for those who seek understanding, without folding your own truth in the process.